Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar leave Pakistan squad today

Three players from the Pakistan squad departed New Zealand today for Pakistan.

Not required for the National Bank Test Series are injured pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar, top order batsman Imran Nazir and all-rounder Shahid Afridi. The trio departed from Christchurch International Airport at 1pm today.

Replacement players Arshad Khan, Younis Khan and Humayun Farhat arrived today.

The Pakistan manager, Fakir Aizazuddin, yesterday indicated that at least two more players would return to Pakistan but it seems that is no longer the case.

Pakistan will play a three-day warm-up the first Test against New Zealand A at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University beginning tomorrow.

The New Zealand A side as named last week is: